Man struck and killed by Amtrak train in Fridley

A westbound Amtrak train struck and killed a man on the tracks late at night in Fridley, a rail official said Friday.

The incident occurred shortly before midnight Thursday, when the Empire Builder hit the man about 18 miles into its journey from the St. Paul Amtrak station to Seattle and Portland, Ore., said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.

The train, which began its travels in Chicago, was delayed for nearly three hours as investigators did their work at the scene, Magliari said.

There was no immediate information about why the man, who has yet to be identified, was on the tracks near 77th Avenue NE. and just east of East River Road.